P&Z board discusses façade colors, aging mural at former Donlon’s Pharmacy location

By Denise Lana,

Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission held its monthly meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m., at Decorah City Hall. The lone item on the agenda was discussion and action regarding C-3 design plans for the old Donlon’s Pharmacy location at 201 and 205 West Water Street and 101 Winnebago Street.  

The site plan was submitted by Caleb Ulring with JNC LLC, and consists of repainting the entire exterior, adding trim molding around the second-floor windows, re-addition of a commercial door on Water Street, the addition of two murals and rehabilitation of the current mural.  

From the plan specifications, the objective of the building — which was previously three buildings opened to create one large space — is to split the single space into three again, creating more small-business-friendly spaces downtown. Each of the three buildings would be painted different colors. Ulring explained the three colors selected for the façades were inspired by Norwegian wharfs like Bergen and Trondheim. The large mural on the Winnebago side of the building is around 40 years old and is peeling. Ulring asked the Decorah Chamber of Commerce to contact the original artist to discuss restoration options, but several months passed without any reply. Goedken did point out the HPC members would also like to see the historic-themed mural redone, and Ulring assured the P&Z board he would contact Carl Homstad to discuss options for the mural restoration.  

Full article in the April 11 Public Opinion Newspaper.

Can and bottle redemption

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